Method of making cylindrical surfaces



Feb. 16, 1954 w. F. PERKINS 2,669,010

METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 6 Sheet's-Sheet 1 Wm. nee F. PERKINS.

Feb. 16, 1954 w. F. PERKINS METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES 4 Original FiledSept. 10, 1945 6 Sheets -Sheet 2 I N VENTOR. M/ALTER F. PER/(1N ATTORNEY.

1954 w. F. PERKINS METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 Simona-A .Szrmnb Jos '2 w. F. PERKINS ,669,010

METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES Feb. 16, 1954 Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 grwwwtom WAL TEE PER/(INS Feb. 16, 1954 w. F. PERKINS METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VII," "Ill 64 Qmwv w W9LTER F. PERKINS.

Feb. 16, 1954 w-. F. PERKINS METHOD OF MAKING c YLINDRICAL. SURFACES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 W41. 7-5/2 F. P512 KINJ.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 I METHOD OF MAKING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES Walter F. Perkins, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Original application September 10, 1945, Serial No. 615,337, now Patent No. 2,511,873, dated June 20, 1950.

Divided and this application May 2, 1947, Serial No. 745,587

Claims. (01. 29-1482) This invention relates to gas holders of the lift-type and to the manufacture of the cylindrical surface of the same.

This application is a divisional application of my co-pending application, Serial No. 615,337, filed September 10, 1945, now Patent No. 2,511,873.

The invention has for its objects to provide a new and improved lift-type gas holder; to provide new and improved methods of constructing lift-type gas holders; to provide new and improved prefabricated elements of lift-type ,gas holders; to provide new and improved roller assemblies for lift-type gas holders; to effect economy in the cost of constructing lift-type gas whereby the volume of the gas holder may be increased or decreased as required to accommodate the supply of gas on hand. Such lift-type gas holders, as are more particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, are constructed with a circular tank I0 adapted to hold water at least in the portion adjacent the periphery, a guide-frame structure I2, and a gas-tight bell I4 mounted for vertical movement by means of suitable rollers "5' adapted to roll on vertical guides I8 mounted on the guide-frame I2. The skirt 20 of the bell I4, which, if desired, may be made extensible by means of one or more telescoping extensions 22 and 24, is immersed in the water in tank I0 holders; to avoid disadvantages of the prior art thereby forming a gas-tight enclosure. There is and to obtain advantages as will be pointed out. thus provided a gas holder the capacity of which Other objects will become, apparent as the demay be increased or decreased as required to scription proceeds. accommodate the quantities of gas on hand.

These objects are accomplished in the present The present invention relates particularly to gas holders of the general character described invention of which the following is a complete description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional, view of the left half of an expanded multiple lift'gas holder taken along a radius;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a left hand portion of a collapsed multiple lift gas holder taken along a radius; V

Figure 3 is a view of a blank from which an element of a lift of a multiple gas holder accord: ing to the invention is developed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the developedelement of Figure 3 showing a temporary shaping stay;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of a segment of a multiple gas holder according to the invention.

Figures 6 and. '7 are detailed viewsofportions of Figure 5; v I g y V Figure 8 is a modification of the structure illustrated in Figure 6; H s

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of an intermediate lift; p H j H Figures 10 and 11 are sectional viewstaken along lines A-A and B-B respectively of Figure 9;. V

Figure 12 is a detailed view of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view showing the mount-.-. ing. and construction of an outside roller .of the outer lift;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is an isometric view of the temporary stay illustrated in Figure 4.

. Lift-typev gas holders are commonly used for the storage of, gas in quantities in the order -of me oe nie ,0Q 0:il bi." t en a es holders are const u ted th 0. 18 or more lifts above and incorporates in such a structure certain features of novelty as will be pointed out which provide a stronger and/or lighter structure which may be assembled in less time and/or with less labor than structures heretofore available in the prior art.

These advantages are accomplished in the present invention largely as the result of a novel prefabricated element 26, as more fully shown in Figures 3 through 11, which is utilized in con structing the skirt 20 andextensions 22 and 24 of the bell I4. This prefabricated element 26 is shaped as a channel provided with a web 28, upstanding sides 30 normal thereto and inturned flanges 32 parallel to the Web 28. These pre-.- fabricated channels may be rolled from a sheet such as is illustrated in Figure 3 where the corresponding numbered portions designate the web, sidewalls and flanges of the finished channel or they may be assembled by welding sheets 34 to channels 36. 1

The prefabricated elements 26 are provided with a series of bolt holes 38 in the sidewalls 30 and are adapted to be bolted one to another with the sidewall 30 of one element abutting the opposite sidewall 39 of another. A series of these prefabricated elements bolted together in the form of an annulus, as best seen in Figures 5 through 9, form the skirt 20 and the skirt extensions 22 and 24. In a multiple-lift gas holder the skirt and skirt extensions are severally known as lifts. The skirt 20 and extensions 22 and 24 consequently may be referred to herein some" times as lifts 20, 22 and 24 respectively.

.Each pair of adiacent lifts is provided with complimentary grippingand sealing means,- as

best shown in Figure 2, whereby the inner lift of the pair as it is raised engages and lifts the outer one of the pair with a gas-tight engagement. Suitable gripping and sealing means as illustrated comprise hydraulic cups 40 and grips 42 formed in the shape of an upwardly opening annular channel and a downwardly opening annular channel respectively of such dimensions that the inner radius of the grip is intermediate the outer and inner radii of the cup. Hence in the expanded position the outer side 44 of cup 46 lies inside the grip 42 and the inside wall 46 of the grip lies inside the cup 42. The wall 46 is thus immersed in the water retained in the cup 40 and forms a gas-tight wall in the expanded position as more clearly shown in Figure l. The depth of the cup is desirably equal to the depth of the grip so that the top edge of wall 44 will engage the top 48 of the grip 42 at the same time that the bottom edge of the wall Alt engages the bottom 50 of the cup 4t. Inner wall 52 of cup 40 also forms part of the lift. Desirably though not necessarily it is made of separate sheets welded to the prefabricated elements 26. Similarly the outer wall 54 of the grip 42 is constructed. 48, 50, 52 and 54 desirably are made of heavier stock than the prefabricated elements 26 in order to give added strength to the lift structure. At the bottom of the outermost lift there is provided an out-turned annular flange 56 in place of a cup. It is constructed as the cup 4!) except the outside wall 44 is omitted. Similarly no grip is provided at the top of the innermost lift. There is provided instead a circular convex dome or roof be welded at its periphery to the top of the lift thereby forming with the lift the gastight bell I4. If desired the height of the lift is extended by means of plates 60 welded to the top of the lift proper and in turn to the periphery of the dome. This is desirable when similar plates are used in forming the outer walls 54 of the grips 52. The height of'the inner lift is thus made equal to that of the other lifts.

In the landed position the dome, as shown in Figure 2, is supported against collapse by a supporting structure SI of any suitable design. Inasmuch as such structures are common in the The sheets forming the walls 44, 46,

art, it will not be necessary to describe them in I detail.

At suitable intervals about the interior surface of the inner lift 29, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, there are provided legs 62 composed of Ts 64 fastened to the lift in a vertical position by means of a suitable supporting structure 66. This supporting structure suitably is constructed by welding the cross heads 68 of one or more T sections to the lift with the legs 10 of such T sections in vertical alignment. These legs are joined to the legs 12 by suitable fasteners such as bolts 74.

At intervals about the inner surface of the other lifts 22 and 24 diametrically opposite the legs 62, as best seen in Figures 5. 6, 9 and 12, there are provided vertical rails I6 to provide rolling surfaces for rollers it. These rails extend from a point adjacent to the top of the lift to a point slightly below the bottom as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 11. These rails suitably are composed of a T section, the leg 80 of which is suitably fastened to a supporting structure 82 mounted on the inner surface of the lift and the cross-head 84 of which forms the rolling surface. Suitably the supporting structure 82 is formed of one or more angles having one side 86 welded to the inner surface.

Figure 2.

4 of the lift and the other side 88 projecting outwardly and in vertical alignment. The leg of the T is fastened to this projecting side by suitable fasteners such as the bolts 96.

At intervals about the inner surface of the tank Iii diametrically opposite the legs 62, as shown in Figure 5, there are provided a plurality of vertical guide channels 92 which function as tracks or guides for the rollers 94. The channels 92 are mounted on the inner surface of the tank II] by suitable supporting structures 96.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention as more clearly illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, the inside walls 52 of the cups are lapwelded as shown at 98 to the outside of the lift and the outside walls 5 1 of the grips are lapwelded as shown at mil to the inside of the lift. In accordance with this modification, the supporting structures 66 and 82 for the legs 62 and rails 76 are composed of three separate sec tions, 88a, 63b and 880, the outstanding legs of sides of which are progressively of different height to accommodate the stepped structure of the inner surface of the lift formed by lapwelding as described above.

The bottom portion 880 of the supporting structures 66 and 82 extend below the bottom of the lifts, as more clearly illustrated in Figure 12, a distance sufficient to provide a base for mounting roller brackets Hi2 and IE4 (Figure 5) for the rollers I8 and 94 respectively. The extension I65 of the supporting structures form with the bottom to of cups 4t an angle in which the roller brackets may be securely fastened as by welding. A similar angle is provided on the outside lift by the reinforcing flange 56 and the extension Hi5 of the supporting structure. The roller brackets I82 and I04 are provided with radially adjustable bearings Hi6 whereby the radial position of the rollers 18 and 94 may be adjusted.

A similar angle is provided at the top of the outside and intermediate lifts by the intersection of the top 43 and the inner side 46 of the grip 42. The side 46 is projected a suitable distance above the top plate 48 for this purpose Supporting structures I07 and I08 for the outside rollers I6 are suitably fastened in these angles as by welding as more clearly shown in Supporting structure HE! is mounted on the dome 58. The outermost plates II2 of the dome desirably are made of heavy stock and are reinforced by brackets [Hi to provide an adequately strong base for support I I0.

Mounted on the supporting structures I01, I08, and Ilflare roller assemblies H6. The construction of these roller assemblies and their mounting and operation are best seen in Figures 1, 2, i3 and 14. These roller assemblies are composed of three rollers as shown at H8 and I20 journalled in suitable supports. Rollers H8 are mounted on parallel axes and are positioned to roll upon the flanges I22 of I-shaped guide I8 mounted in a vertical position on the guide-frame I2 whereas the rollerI20 is mounted with its axis normal to the axes of the rollers H8 and is positioned to roll upon the web I26 of guide IS. The guides I8 are suitably spaced on the guideframe structure I2 by a suitable supporting means I28 in positions which preferably are diametrically opposite to the legs 62 so that the outside rollers l6 are diametrically opposite at least some of the inside rollers 19 and 94. The supporting structure [28 suitably is a T, the crosshead of which is suitably fastened'to the.

framework structure as by welding with its leg I30 in a vertical position and projecting radially toward the center of the structure. The web I26 of the guide I8 is suitably fastened to the leg I30 of the support I26 as by welding.

The roller assembly comprises a channelshaped bracket I32 having a, web I 34 and side flanges I36. The rollers I I8 are mounted on the channel I32 by the pinions I38 which are provided with retaining heads I40 and project through the side flanges I36. Suitable washers I42 and suitable pins I44 complete the mounting of rollers II8. .As already pointed out, the axes of these rollers and the axes of pinions I38 are parallel. They are also normal to the side flanges of channel I32. The center roller I20 is mounted in two parallel plates I46 welded, or otherwise fastened, to the web I34 and side flanges I36 of the channel I32. The plates are parallel one to another and normal to the side flanges I36 and the web I 34. They project slightly beyond the front flange as required properly to position the roller I20. The front flange is cut away as required to permit plates I46 so to project. The roller I20 revolves on pinion I48 which is normal to the pinions I38. The web I34 of channel I 32 is adjustably mounted on plate I50 in a horizontal position on top of each of the supports I01, I08, and H0. The web I34 is perforated with longitudinally elongated slots I52 whereas the plate I50 is provided with correspondingly positioned transversely elongated slots I54. The channel I32 is fastened to the plate I50 by suitable fastening means such as the bolts I56. By loosening the bolts I56, the channel I32 may be shifted transversely throughout the length of slots I54 and longitudinally throughout the length of slots I52. Within limits, therefore, the position of the rollers is easily adjustable.

The invention may be more fully understood by referring generally to the method of construction. The first thing to be constructed is the tank I0. A suitable bottom I58 is formed by welding together sheets upon a suitable foundation. The bottom is circular. About the circumference of this bottom is then erected the wall of the tank. The wall of the tank is suitably formed by welding together steel plates. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, these plates may be proportioned in weight according to the pressure of water that they are required to support. Thus the bottom plate I60 maybe substantially thicker than the top plate I62.

The framework structure I2 is built up from the top of the tank I0 in the customary manner. Suitable reinforcing beams I64 are projected downwardly from this framework structure and welded to the wall of the tank.

Either before or after or simultaneously with the building. up of the tank and the framework structure I2, the lifts are fabricated in the position shown in Figure 2 and prior to this, or afterward, or simultaneously therewith, the supporting structure 6| is erected in accordance with the usual practice in the art.

The outer lift is erected :first. Suitable supports I 68, whichsuitably may be I-beams welded along radii at intervals along the bottom I58, are provided to hold the lifts 20, 22, and 24 off the bottom I 58. Upon these supports there is first erected an annulus composed of the plates 52d and flange 56. This annulus is formed from steel sheets cut and shaped to the desired curvature and welded together. Segments may, be prefabricatedandweldedtogether on the job to form the annulus. I

- place.

After a portion or all of this annulus has been constructed, the prefabricated elements 26 are assembled thereon. The bottom edge of the web 28 of the prefabricated element 26 is welded in a lapweld 98 to the inside edge of the annulus near the top thereof. A second prefabricated section 26 may then be fastened to the first by means of suitable fasteners such as the bolts I10 and the bottom edge welded to the annulus. Several of the prefabricated elements 26 may bebolted together and handled as a unit. Successive prefabricated elements are thus erected.

If the web 28 of the prefabricated element 26 has not been pre-shaped to the desired curvature, and frequently it isnot desirable so to shape it, the erection of the lift may be facilitated by using a shaping means. Thus tie-bolts passed through the boltholes from one side to the other will readily suflice to draw the web into the desired shape. More desirably, however, this may be accomplished by means of a shaping stay or batten I12 as more particularly shown in Figures 4 and 15. The ends I14 have a thickness equal to the space between the web 28 and the in-turned flange 32 and the front edge I16-is shaped to give the desired curvature to the web 28. In other words, it is shaped as a segment of a circle having the diameter of the lift.

With the shaping means in place, the web 28 will have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the lift and the sides 30 will converge along radii towardvthe center of the curvature as more particularly illustrated in Figure 4. The shaping means may be inserted just prior to the construction or they may be included during transit of the prefabricated elements. Thereis thus provided not only a.construction unit but also a transportation unit. The stays I12 particularly may be utilized as means for packaging the elements for handling during transportation.

Because of the particular structure of the prefabricated element 26, the lifts may be constructed of considerably lighter gauge sheets than has been heretofore possible. Flat sheets do not have the inherent rigidity necessary for easy manipulation during their erection nor the necessary strength to provide a rigid lift unless they have substantial thickness. The ides 30 of the prefabricated elements 26 when bolted together form about the interior circumference of the lift a plurality of reinforcements which give unusual firmness and rigidity to the lift. Moreover, they impart'a stiffness to the prefabricated element 26 which, even with an unusually light gauge steel, greatly facilitates their'handling in the erection of the lift;

After all or part of the prefabricated elements 26 have been erected, the grip'42 is welded-in Desirably annular segments are first formed as in the case of the annulus at the bottom. The inside edge of these annular segments are lapwelded'to the inside top edge of the assembled prefabricated elements as more clearly shown at I00, Figure 12, the outer wall 54 being cut away, iJe. notched, as required to accommodate the sides 36 of the prefabricated element 26. The sides 30 form supports for the grip and thereby eliminate the necessity of any special means for supporting the plates in place during the welding operation.

Each successive lift is constructed in substantially the same manner as described above. The hydraulic cups 40 are formed into an annulus in essentially the ,samemanner as the reinforcing flange 56. The inner lift 20 is constructed essentially in the same manner but without the grip 42. Instead plates cc and H2 are welded in placeat the top edge of the assembled prefabricated elements 26. The plates 60 and H2 and brackets H4 may be prefabricated in annular segments and welded in place exactly as the annular segmerits of the grip 42. The dome or crown 58 is then formed in the usual manner.

As the construction progresses, the guide channels t2, rails 76 and legs 52 are constructed in their proper order. The roller brackets Hi2 and um and rollers l8 and 94 are also mounted in place in proper order as the construction proseeds. The proper order requires that the outermost of each corresponding element whether track, roller, prefabricated element, or the like, shall be erected first. In this manner, ample freedom for workmen and tools is provided. Thus the supporting legs 52 will be the last of such elements to be erected. Their erection, of course, should be made prior to construction of the crown 58.

l'he outside roller supports 107, 08, and illl are welded in place either after or during the previously described construction and the roller assemblies H6 are mounted and adjusted. The structure is then ready for the final welding operation.

The tank H) is now filled with water and air is pumped into the tank as required to raise the bell l4. As the bell I4 is being raised, the prcfabricated elements of its skirt 20 are welded together by welds I'EB as more clearly shown in Figure 6. The bolting together of the prefabricated elements form an enclosure which is sufficiently gas-tight that the lift may be raised as described. The area of the lift is so great that the actual pressure involved to raise the lift is very small. This, coupled with the fact that the lift may be progressively raised so that only small portions of the unwelded joints are exposed at any one time, makes it feasible so to raise the lift notwithstanding that the lift may not yet be gas-tight.

When the joints are fully welded, the bell I4 is completely gas-tight. Further air may then be pumped into the gas holder as required to raise the skirt extensions or lifts 22 and 24 successively. The prefabricated elements of the first lift are welded together as before and this process is continued as required to complete the structure.

The adjustable roller assemblies as illustrated. particularly in Figures 12, 13, and 14 make it possible e fiectively and economically to effect the above-described operations. By the simple expediency of loosening bolts, it is possible to realign or adjust the rollers as may be required to accommodate the particular requirements of the gas holder. It is not practically possible so to construct a lift-type gas holder that adjustment of the rollers need not be made during the initial operations. Practices heretofore available make it difficult to do this and have materially increased cost of construction since the number of manhours lost during such adjustments is a function of a number of welders and the time reduire v for the adjustment. Since a large number of welders is required in welding the outside seams as described above, it is evident that even a short delay will involve relatively large loss of time. Thus the adjustable rollers according to the invention mutually cooperate with the method of construction to provide economies not heretofore realized.

While I have described my inventionwith ref erence to particular embodiments thereof, it will the invention.

I claim:

1. A. method of constructing a cylindrical surface which comprises the steps of forming a plurality of channel haped members having a normally fiat, resilient, flexible web provided with in.- tegral fiat sides normal to said web which in turn are provided with integral inturned flanges parallel to said web; flexing said web to the curvature of said cylindrical surface; holding said web in flexed position; positioning each of said flexed channel members between a pair of like flexed channel members so that the web portion forms a cylindrical surface and each integral flat side of each member faces'and abuts an integral flat side of the adjacent member between which it has been positioned; fastening the abutting sides to each other; and releasing said web from said held position whereby said channel members tend to pivot about the points of fastening to form tightly sealed joints.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the fastening step comprises first fastening together said sides at points intermediate the width thereof and then welding together the outer portions of the thus fastened together sides.

3. A method of constructing 'a cylindrical surface which comprises the steps of forming a plurality of channel shaped members having a normally flat, resilient, flexible web provided with integral flat sides normal to said web which in turn are provided with integral inturned flanges parallel to said web; flexing said web to the curvature of said cylindrical surface; holding each of said channel members having a flexed web in said flexed position with a temporary stay means; positioning each of said flexed channel members between a pair of lik flexed channel members so that the web portions form a cylindrical surface and each integral flat side of each member faces and abuts an integral flat side of the adjacent member between which it has been positioned; and fastening the abutting sides to each other at points intermediate the width of said sides.

4. The method of claim 3 and the further step of removing said sta means from each of said members whereby said channel members tend to pivot about the points of fastening to form tightly sealed joints.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the fastening step comprises first fastening together said sides at points intermediate the width thereof and then welding together the outer portions of the thus fastened together sides and in which the removal of the temporary stay means is efiectecl before said welding step.

WALTER F. PERKINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,107 Penfield May 3, 1887 502,846 'Caird Aug. 8, 1893 780,554 Dobson Jan. 24, 1905 LEI/ll? Schlafiy June 1, 1915 1,167,797 Clawson Jan. 11, 1916 1,494,818 Shean May 20, 1924 1,895,667 Junkers Jan. 31, 1933 1,978,494 Junkers l- Oct. 30, 1934- '2,4'77,98'7 'Kin'ghorn -1 -Aug. 2, 1949 2,511,873 Perkins June 20, 1950 

